Chinatown, Nagasaki

We are not really fans of chinatown....but certain experiences led us to venture into chinatown around the world. This one u can't miss because Chinatown Nagasaki is the oldest chinatown in Japan. Nagasaki being the only city/port that was open to the world received many influences from the Dutch, English, Portuguese and Chinese.

During the Chinese New Year festival, this narrow street would be filled with bright colorful lanterns. Shops lined the narrows lanes in Chinatown selling chinese influenced japanese food and imported goods from China. But we were here for one thing.....FOOD...oh well isn't that obvious by now?

Ta-DA!!!!! Champon!!!
the Dish of Nagasaki

We were told over and over again by Chef Ota of Sumika Yakitori this is a must have in Nagasaki. We trusted him wholly, afterall he's from Nagasaki :))))

The dish is made with frying pieces of pork and seafood in lard. Oh yumms...in lard :)))))) before the chicken and pork bone soup is added. And finally noodles and vegetables. This is entirely different from ramen....the broth is sweet and rich with loads of squids, octopus, clams and pork.

The texture of the noodle is really good too!!! my only complain....I need chilis!!!!!

The next dish is called Sara Udon. The inventor of this dish is definitely not Miss Sara. Hahahaha. Another local dish of Nagasaki. It basically consisted of the same ingredients of Champon.

But wait.....there's a surprise underneath it.... crispy crunchy noodles!!!!!
this dish was my favourite :))))))))))))))

The portion was huge for both the Champon and Sara Udon but u gotta eat wat the locals eat here. As usual we were the only locals around. I couldn't even remember the name of this restaurant hahahaha.

Hello Mr. Crab!!! we are gonna eat u!!!
this was worth trying because we wanted to have something else apart from carbs. The thing about chinese food when there's only 2 of u.....it's so difficult to have more variety!! This was velvety eggs scrambled with crab.

This dish looked so simple but my gawd.....so yummy. Best chinese scrambled eggs ever!!! The eggs were so yummy with intense fragrant and I suspected they used lard....:)))))))))

Other eats in Chinatown and native to Nagasaki would be steamed marinated pork cutlet served in really hot soft buns. That's my favourite especially for snacks or even lunch :))))

The famous dish Champon was originated from the famed Shikairou which housed a Champon Museum too..hahahaha. Instead we thought of settling for something less-touristy here at Konzanrou, the best chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Nagasaki :))))

Konzanrou
12-2 Shinchi Machi,
Chinatown, Nagasaki,
Kyushu, Japan.

Kofuku-ji Temple, Nagasaki

Built at the hilly district of Teramachi, Kofuku-ji is Japan's very first Obaku Zen Buddhist temple. During the Ming Dynasty, merchants came to Nagasaki to trade. Soon they built this temple to worship and to pray for the safety of their journey from China - Japan - China.

The ticketing booth was also painted in red to blend in with this temple. The genial old men then handed us some brochures with information in chinese.....then we had to inform no chinese...then he gave us in korean....no we are not korean....before we could elaborate, he gave us brochures in german then spanish....then we gave up.

"ENGLISH kudasai!!!!"

the temple is also known as Nanking Temple and is now the cultural asset of Nagasaki. There are many other chinese temples along this road. But since this is the first one, we had to visit it hehehehehehe.

It looked so chinese!!!! everything was constructed chinese style including the carvings, statues and landscaping!!!! u no longer see any japanese zen garden.

worshipping with bamboos, pomelos and fruits from the lemon family. The weird looking lemon is called Buddha's hand. Very citrusy and less acid compared to normal lemon. I had my first taste of it in Vienna. *read about it here*

the grave yard was at the back of the temple. 
I think the chinese were great explorers and merchants, to have presence everywhere around the world. Think of Zheng He :))))

Prollie he and his fleets were the one who charted the first world map. U think so? It's still a mystery. But one thing for sure, u can find Chinatown anywhere everywhere around planet Earth. And after this serene visit to Kofuku-ji temple, we headed to Chinatown of Nagasaki for the famous Champon. Which oh well, is a must eat whenever u are in the city of Nagasaki.

Till the next post folks :))))

Another humongous breakfast at Takefue Ryokan

It was snowing sparingly out there hence Monkey needed an umbrella to get out and jumped into the onsen!!! actually u can't really jump in bcoz it's so shallow....plus the hot spring bath is really really hot...so u just need to undress and walk slowly into it. At first the heat will prick ur skin like needles and once you have kinda adjusted to the outside zero temperature with snow and the heat from the onsen it's BLISS~~~~~~

This ryokan has been triple bookmarked to be returned despite its far flung location. No wonder it's the best ryokan in Japan :))))))))))

After our hot bath early in the morning to wake the system up, it's time to fill the stomachssssSSsssss. And by the time we are back, breakfast was somehow already discreetly presented at the dining area with small fireplace called Irori.

I don't know how did Hiro do this everyday, quietly and with such perfection but most of all in stealth mode...u won't know he's around you. So rest assured your privacy is well maintained at your stay at Takefue.


Our breakfast also came with a wooden box with a teapot of artisanal soy sauce. The stainless steel outlet at the top of the wooden box is to let out steam.

Monkey: "What's inside???"
JS: "U'll definitely not find diamonds in there!!!"
Monkey -_-"


ohhhh wow!!!! freshly made toufu, still pipping hot....I am not a toufu person but toufu in Japan changed my whole perspective of this soft fragile health food.


Beautiful greens is a must have for breakfast in Japanaese's diet. They were all so fresh and RAW.

to be eaten with a homemade citrus dressing, almost like a ponzu. If you noticed all the cutlery used here were made from bamboo.


homemade baby pork sausage with herbs and spices. Since the morning before we had a full fledged japanese breakfast, so for this particular morning we had something more western.

But u kenot escape this!!! an entire HUGE fish semi-grilled....waiting to be grilled further.

My favourite pickles is the pink daikon and relish wrapped with cabbage. We wanted to buy it but it's not for sale...and it's homemade -_-"

really healthy toufu soup. It looked so bland but trust me, it's power packed with taste!!!!

Then it's time to grill our breakfast!!!! this....I have no problem...coz Mr. JS commanded that he's in charge and Monkey was NOT to touch anything but wait....he feared that she will screw everything especially when it comes to cooking....

I know... >.<
it's just grilling food...not like I need to sous-vide or employ some high culinary skills to it.

Even this oso kenot!!!!
anyway I happily let him fix my breakfast :P

Now u know why Monkey can't touch....coz It MUST be grilled and sauteed to this perfection. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The trick is not to put it over the fire but on the side....and have a lot of patience....yes PATIENCE!!!! and keep turning them around.

and when I was about to gobbled my long awaited really fragrant yummy breakfast....JS pulled another hand brake!!!!

JS: "NO!!! not the usual way!!!. u gotta eat it the Japanese way!!!"
Monkey -_- x 1000000
which was to put the soft fried egg with runny yolk on top of perfectly steamed fluffy hot fat grains of rice. U sure this is the japanese way??????

Add in some animal fats either the sausage or ur bacon....sprinkle some freshly chopped spring onions *I swear I didn't know where he found it on the table* then nom nom nom nom.

See told ya JS is a control freak...from the way how food should be done to its consumption. But I have no complaints coz I knew he meant me well....and it was AWESOME to enjoy breakfast this way after a hot hot hot bath inside the onsen under the snow. SUPERB.

If you would like to find out more about this Ryokan, *click here*. We stayed in Omachian typed of villa.

Another posting on our previous day breakfast at the same ryokan *here*

Unique traditional food at Kumamoto, Kyushu

It was still early in the morning and as both JS and Monkey walked past these stalls...the whiff of yummy desserts for breakfast triggered alarms in our tummy....hahahahaha...bee boo bee boo bee boo. Need food it says. :P

We were so intrigued by these cute lil dumplings liked dessert being sold by 3rd generation of a family outside the Suizenji Park. The ladies selling them were encouraging us to try them. It's the speciality of Kumamoto, so it's a must try :))))

Both of us shared a piece and it came with hot tea. Later we found out that it's called Ikinari Dango.

It's hot!!!! Almost like a bun, but made from rice flour.

Wow!!! wat a lovely surprise on the inside. A huge chunk of japanese sweet potato which was so fluffy and yummy...and some red bean paste. Soon both JS and Monkey were fighting over who gets the last bite off the yummy fluffy Ikinari Dango >.<

As we were feasting on the sweet dumpling, our eyes were darting left and right and saw more items to be tried. Every packaging seems to have this cute black bear with chubby red cheeks....he's called Kumamon :)))) the mascot for the city of Kumamoto.

What are these???? Looked like fried fish cakes to us....We went into the kitchen and saw how it's being fried. People here hardly speak english....so u just need to figure out their explanation and we realised this food is also unique to Kumamoto and one of the secrets to longevity.

Kumamoto has the highest number of centenarians in Japan. Meaning a person who has lived up to the age of at least 100 years old!!!!

Karashi Renkon
So we bought the smallest piece, the really really old jovial lady cut it into two to unveil that it was indeed a lotus root on the inside....stuffed to the max with spicy japanese mustard. The yellowish outside was just flour wrapped around the lotus root.

The first bite was it's really crunchy. Then the mustard hits you....somehow it's spicy and yet has some degree of sweetness to it. Usually restaurants here served them sliced, but the one we bought was a small one, so this is how u enjoy it. It was really delicious and we wanted to buy some back but then the lifespan of this Karashi Renkon is just too short. So enjoy them while u are here :)))

Have more so that u'll live up to 100 years old at least. Hehehehehe. Somehow I still think it's the water in Kumamoto that contributed to the longevity of folks around here :)))

Monkey and Kumamon.

Now there's a Kumamon added to the dismay of my other hobbits at home. Well we didn't buy it. It was given to us at the ryokan. So......hehehehe...I know my bed is getting too crowded these days.

So remember to try these whenever you are in Kumamoto :)))

Nagasaki: Megane Bridge - Spectacles Bridge

and Monkey proudly announced...."we have arrived!!!"
it's usually Me that bring us around sight-seeing. It's not as simple as getting to the destination without being lost. It's about timing, weather and location for photography. So Monkey alwiz needs to work out which direction North South West East, wat time does the Sun rise and set at that particular country that we are visiting. Which time is the best with the less people around and at which direction should we face for some most spectacular pics.

Phewwww....u think it's easy being JS's tourguide? I have yet to come to his culinary requirements yet!!!

Anyhow Monkey has got this perpetually built in GPS in her head since she was young. Can't explain, it's just something that I have. :))))))

What is so spectacular about this stone bridge?
It looks so chinese. Yes Nagasaki has got a lot of chinese influence as it was once the only open port in the whole of Japan. Megane Bridge was built in 1634 and is the OLDEST stone bridge in Japan. Yes the oldest but it looked so new!!!! Currently being designated as important cultural property, it is so well-maintained.

Before Monkey could finish her briefing on this bridge, JS already hopped all the way down to the Nakashima River.

-_-"
never pay attention, alwiz in excitement and in hurry.
I felt like an old teacher trying to control her energetic students.

Monkey: "OIIIII u notti boy!!!! didn't I tell u to listen to me and stop jumping like that!!! U might missed a stone and fall into the river!!!! GRRRRR~~~~~"

Monkey was raising her fist as she yelled at JS

JS looked back nonchalantly and gave me the sign language that he can't hear a thing.
Monkey GRRRRRR~~~~~~ >.<
Yea there was a rapid at the river that drowns out all the other noise.

It's called the Spectacles Bridge for a certain reason right?
Looked exactly like those chinese specs....hahahahaha
U will be able to capture this only if the water is so still......minus all the tourists....hahahaha.

The one with the REAL specs is up there waiting for notti JS with that face. THAT FACE >:(

I'm not a mother but I can damn nag. And JS got another earful for not minding his safety while hopping on those stones. Hey u are in that industry that requires the highest level of HSSE - Health, Safety, Security and Environment.  NAG NAG NAG NAG NAG~~~~~

Glad to be back to blog. It's been a while. :)))